Print management device and computer readable medium

ABSTRACT

A print management device includes a control unit that performs a control for displaying of information indicating a spare capacity of at least one printing device based on a print plan and a print status of the at least one printing device that is performing printing. The print plan is derived based on capability information of the at least one printing device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2018-139802 filed on Jul. 25, 2018.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a print management device and acomputer readable medium.

Related Art

JP-A-9-201747 describes a method of extracting a delay process in a workprocess allocated to plural machine tools. In the method, the scheduledstart time, the scheduled completion time, and the number of scheduledwork components of each work process are previously registered in anelectronic calculator as plan information, and start time of each workprocess, a progress status at the current time, completion time (currenttime in a case where the work process is in a performing state), and thenumber of work completion components (the number of work completioncomponents up to the current time in a case where the work process is inthe performing state) are input to the electronic calculator asachievement information. In the method, when it is necessary to managethe work process, the electronic calculator determines the progressstatus of each work process, based on the achievement information, andin a case where any one of the work processes is in a completion state,the electronic calculator compares completion time of the process withthe scheduled completion time to extract a delay process. Meanwhile, inthe method, in a case where any one of the work processes is in theperforming state, the electronic calculator calculates the completionprediction time of the process, based on the number of work completioncomponents up to the current time, and electronic calculator comparesthe prediction time with the scheduled completion time of the workprocess to extract the delay process.

JP-A-2017-91223 describes an information processing device capable ofperforming both causing a user to recognize a production achievementbased on a production plan and reflecting the production achievement ina profile. The information processing device includes acquisition unitthat acquires achievement information relating to work achievement of apredetermined processing process implemented based on a work plancreated by using a profile specifying process time of the predeterminedprocessing process. The information processing device includes delayachievement management unit that manages delay achievement informationindicating the number of times of work achievements in which delayoccurs in comparison with the work plan with respect to thepredetermined processing process for N pieces of achievement informationacquired by the acquisition unit, and display control unit that displaysa new work plan created by using the profile in a display device. Thedisplay control unit displays additional information indicating apossibility of a delay in the predetermined processing process withrespect to the predetermined processing process included in the new workplan, in a display device, based on the delay achievement information.

SUMMARY

A technique for displaying work completion prediction on a work planpreviously generated has been proposed, but there is no technique forgrasping a spare production capacity for a print plan of a printingdevice.

Aspect of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relates toprovide a print management device and a computer readable medium thatenables grasping of a spare production capacity of a printing device.

Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosureaddress the above advantages and/or other advantages not describedabove. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not requiredto address the advantages described above, and aspects of thenon-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not addressadvantages described above.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided aprint management device including: a control unit that performs acontrol for displaying of information indicating a spare capacity of atleast one printing device based on a print plan that is derived based oncapability information of the at least one printing device and a printstatus of the at least one printing device that is performing printing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of aprint management system according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electricalconfiguration of the print management device according to the firstexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functionalconfiguration of the print management device according to the firstexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a variable managementtable according to the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a correspondence relationshipbetween each variable and a spare capacity according to the exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a temperature andhumidity condition table according to the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet condition tableaccording to the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an error coping tableaccording to the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device characteristictable according to the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processingperformed by a print management program according to the first exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating an example of a print managementscreen according to the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of aprint management system according to a second exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating an example of a post-processingmanagement screen according to the exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a form for implementing thepresent invention will be described in detail below with reference tothe drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of aprint management system 90A according to the first exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the print management system 90A according tothe present exemplary embodiment includes a print management device 10Aand plural printing devices 50A, 50B, 50C, . . . .

For example, a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer (PC)and a portable computer such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal may beused as the print management device 10A according to the presentexemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, pluralprinting devices 50A, 50B, 50C, . . . will be described as an example,but only one printing device may be used instead in a same manner.

The print management device 10A according to the present exemplaryembodiment is connected to each of plural printing devices 50A, 50B,50C, . . . via a network N. For example, the Internet, the Local AreaNetwork (LAN), the Wide Area Network (WAN), or the like is employed asthe network N. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish anddescribe plural printing devices 50 A, 50 B, 50 C, . . . , separately,the plural printing devices are collectively referred to simply as aprinting device 50.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electricalconfiguration of the print management device 10A according to the firstexemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the print management device 10A according tothe present exemplary embodiment includes a control unit 12, a storageunit 14, a display unit 16, an operation unit 18, and a communicationunit 20.

The control unit 12 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 12A, a readonly memory (ROM) 12B, a random access memory (RAM) 12C, and aninput/output interface (I/O) 12D.

The I/O 12D is connected to each functional unit including the storageunit 14, the display unit 16, the operation unit 18, and thecommunication unit 20. The functional units are mutually communicablewith the CPU 12A via the I/O 12D.

The control unit 12 may be configured as a sub-control unit thatcontrols an operation a part of the print management device 10A or maybe configured as a part of a main control unit that controls an overalloperation of the print management device 10A. For example, an integratedcircuit such as a large scale integration (LSI) or an integrated circuit(IC) chip set is used for part or all of the respective blocks of thecontrol unit 12. Individual circuits may be used for each of theabove-described blocks, or a circuit in which a part or all of theblocks are integrated may be used. The above-described blocks may beprovided as one body or a partial block may be provided separately. Inaddition, in each of the above blocks, a part thereof may be separatelyprovided. Not only LSI but also a dedicated circuit or a general-purposeprocessor may be used for integration of the control unit 12.

For example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flashmemory, or the like is used as the storage unit 14. The storage unit 14stores a print management program 14A for realizing a print managementfunction according to the present exemplary embodiment. The printmanagement program 14A may be stored in the ROM 12B. In addition, thestorage unit 14 stores a variable management table 14B, a temperatureand humidity condition table 14C, a sheet condition table 14D, an errorcoping table 14E, and a device characteristic table 14F.

For example, the print management program 14A may be previouslyinstalled in the print management device 10A. The print managementprogram 14A may be realized by being stored in a nonvolatile storagemedium, being distributed via a network, and being appropriatelyinstalled in the print management device 10A. It is conceivable to use,for example, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-opticaldisk, an HDD, a digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM), aflash memory, a memory card, and the like as the nonvolatile storagemedium.

For example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, or the like is used as the display unit 16.The display unit 16 may integrally include a touch panel. The operationunit 18 is provided with devices for an operation input, such as akeyboard and a mouse. The display unit 16 and the operation unit 18receive various instructions from a user of the print management device10A. The display unit 16 displays various kinds of information such as aresult of processing performed according to an instruction received froma user and a notification on the processing.

The communication unit 20 is connected to a network N such as theInternet, the LAN, or the WAN, and is communicable with plural printingdevices 50 via the network N. The communication via the network N may bea wired communication or a wireless communication.

The print management device 10A according to the present exemplaryembodiment performs a display to grasp a production capability for aprint plan of the printing device 50.

Accordingly, the CPU 12A of the print management device 10A according tothe present exemplary embodiment functions as each unit illustrated inFIG. 3 by writing the print management program 14A stored in the storageunit 14 into the RAM 12C.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functionalconfiguration of the print management device 10A according to the firstexemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the CPU 12A of the print management device 10Aaccording to the present exemplary embodiment functions as an acquiringunit 30, a deriving unit 32, and a display control unit 34. The displaycontrol unit 34 is an example of a control unit.

The acquiring unit 30 according to the present exemplary embodimentacquires capability information of the printing device 50, measurementinformation such as the printed sheet number, the elapsed print time,and the like from the printing device 50, and stores the capabilityinformation, the measurement information, and the like which areacquired in the variable management table 14B. Here, the capabilityinformation of the printing device 50 includes a first print speed. Thefirst print speed is one of indicators indicating performance of theprinting device 50 and the printing device 50 represents the indicatoras the number of printable sheets per unit time. For example, pages perminutes (PPM) (sheets/minute) is applied as a unit of the first printspeed. With respect to the number of sheets referred to herein, oneprinted surface is counted as one sheet, and in a case of duplex print,the one sheet is counted as two sheets because the sheet has two sheetsurfaces which are printed.

The deriving unit 32 according to the present exemplary embodimentderives a print plan for the printing device 50 and derives a printstatus of the printing device 50 that is in actual print. Here, theprint plan includes a first print time. The first print time is derivedbased on a scheduled planned sheet number and the first print speed. Forexample, a value obtained by dividing the planned sheet number by thefirst print speed may be used as the first print time. The planned sheetnumber is the number of print sheets which is previously planned for theprinting device 50 and is appropriately set by a user. In addition, theprint status includes elapsed print time and a second print time. Theelapsed print time is determined according to a printed sheet number outof the planned sheet numbers. The printed sheet number and the elapsedprint time are measured constantly or periodically by the printingdevice 50. The second print time is derived based on the number ofremained prints out of the planned sheet number and the second printspeed. For example, a value obtained by dividing the number of remainedprints by the second print speed may be used as the second print time.The number of remained prints is obtained by subtracting the printedsheet number from the planned sheet number. The second print speed isindicated as the number of sheets per unit time in a case where theprinting device 50 is in actual print. For example, the second printspeed is obtained by dividing the number of printed sheets by themeasured value of the elapsed print time. PPM is used as a unit of thesecond print speed in the same manner as the first print speed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the variable managementtable 14B according to the present exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first print speed is referred to as PPM1and the second print speed is referred to as PPM2. A unit thereof is[sheet/minute]. In addition, the planned sheet number is referred to asPPGPL and the printed sheet number is referred to as PPGPF. A unitthereof is [sheet]. In addition, the measured value of the elapsed printtime is referred to as TM1, and a statistical value of the print time(type and size of the sheet) is referred to as TM2 (which will bedescribed below). A unit thereof is [minute]. In addition, an operationtime per day of the printing device 50 is previously set, and theoperation time is referred to as WTM. A unit thereof is [minute]. Inaddition, the first print time is referred to as DTM1 and the secondprint time is referred to as DTM2. A unit thereof is [minute].

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a correspondence relationshipbetween each variable and a spare capacity according to the presentexemplary embodiment.

A left diagram of FIG. 5 illustrates a correspondence relationshipbetween each variable at the time of planning and the spare capacity,and a right diagram of FIG. 5 illustrates a correspondence relationshipbetween each variable at the time of execution and the spare capacity.

The display control unit 34 according to the present exemplaryembodiment performs a control to display information indicating thespare capacity of the printing device 50, based on the print plan andthe print status derived from the deriving unit 32.

First, a spare capacity at the time of print plan will be described withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The number of maximum printed sheets MPP perday in the printing device 50 is derived from Equation (1).

MPP=WTM×PPM1   (1)

Meanwhile, the first print time DTM1 is derived from Equation (2).

DTM 1=PPGPL/PPM1   (2)

In a case where the spare capacity at this time is represented as time(spare time), the spare time MT is derived from Equation (3).

MT=WTM−DTM1   (3)

In addition, in a case where the spare capacity is represented as thenumber of sheets (spare capacity sheet number), the spare capacity sheetnumber MP is derived from Equation (4).

MP=(WTM−DTM1)×PPM1   (4)

The spare time MT and the spare capacity sheet number MP which arederived from above equations are set as initial values at a point oftime of plan.

Next, the spare capacity at the time of performing print will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. PPGPF and TM1 at a point oftime T are acquired at a certain point of time T after the printingdevice 50 start printing. The second print time DTM2 is derived fromEquation (5).

DTM 2=(PPGPL−PPGPF)/PPM2   (5)

Here, PPM2 is derived from Equation (6).

PPM 2=PPGPF/TM1   (6)

At this time, in a case where PPM1=PPM2, a relationship of Equation (7)is established.

TM1+DTM2=DTM1   (7)

That is, printing is performed as planned, and the spare capacity isdisplayed as the initial value.

Meanwhile, the display control unit 34 according to the presentexemplary embodiment performs a control to update display of informationindicating the spare capacity of the printing device 50, based on thefirst print time, the elapsed print time, and the second print timewhich are described above. For example, in a case where the total timeof the elapsed print time and the second print time is different fromthe first print time, the display of the information indicating thespare capacity of the printing device 50 is updated. The term“different” described herein means that a difference between the totaltime and the first print time is greater than or equal to apredetermined time (for example, time longer than or equal to 10minutes, or the like). In the example of FIG. 5, in a case where(TM1+DTM2) is different from DTM1, the printing is not performed asplanned, and the display of the spare capacity is updated.

(TM1+DTM2)>DTM1   (8)

Specifically, Equation (8) being satisfied indicates that printing isexpected to be completed later than planned.

(TM1+DTM2)<DTM1   (9)

Equation (9) being satisfied indicates that printing is expected to becompleted earlier than planned. In this case, for example, informationindicating the spare capacity of the printing device 50 is representedas a spare capacity sheet number which is obtained by multiplying thespare time obtained by subtracting the total time of the elapsed printtime and the second print time from an operation time by the secondprint speed.

MP={WTM−(TM1+DTM2)}×PPM2   (10)

That is, the spare capacity sheet number MP is derived from Equation(10).

A value obtained by dividing the printed sheet number by a statisticalvalue of the print time according to at least one of a type and a sizeof a sheet may be adopted as the above-mentioned second print speed. Thestatistical value of the print time referred to herein corresponds toTM2 illustrated in FIG. 4 described above and is obtained by multiplyingthe statistical value of the print time per sheet by the printed sheetnumber. Type of sheet includes, for example, a normal paper, an embossedpaper, a recycled paper, a custom paper, and the like. In addition, thesize of sheet includes, for example, B5, letter (Let), A4, B4, A3, andthe like. For example, for each type of sheet, statistical values may bepreviously obtained from a set of achieved values of the print time,which is necessary for printing, per sheet. Likewise, the statisticalvalues may be obtained for each size of a sheet or for each type andsize of a sheet. For example, an average value, a median value, the mostfrequent value, or the like is used for the statistical value.

In addition, a value obtained by dividing the printed sheet number by astatistical value of print time according to at least one of the typeand the size of a sheet and conditions of temperature and humidity atthe time of printing may be adopted as the second print speed.

Here, a form for deriving the second print speed by using the type andsize of sheet and the temperature and humidity conditions will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the temperature andhumidity condition table 14C according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

In addition, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the sheetcondition table 14D according to the present exemplary embodiment.

In the temperature and humidity condition table 14C illustrated in FIG.6, conditions 1 to 16 are stored in a matrix form in accordance with atemperature and a humidity. By referring to the temperature and humiditycondition table 14C, based on the temperature and humidity at the timeof printing, any one of the conditions 1 to 16 is selected. Then, thesheet condition table 14D illustrated in FIG. 7 is specified based onthe selected condition.

The sheet condition table 14D illustrated in FIG. 7 is providedcorresponding to each of the conditions 1 to 16 in the temperature andhumidity condition table 14C. Statistical values X1, X2, . . . of theprint time per sheet are stored in the sheet condition table 14D,according to the type and size of sheet.

Next, a form in a case where occurrence of an error is detected will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the error coping table14E according to the present exemplary embodiment.

In the error coping table 14E illustrated in FIG. 8, a previouslydefined time necessary for coping with the error is stored for each typeof the error. For example, a statistical value obtained from a set ofachieved values of time necessary for coping with the error may beadopted as the previously defined time. The average value, the medianvalue, the most frequent value, and the like are used for thestatistical value referred to herein.

In a case where occurrence of an error is detected, the display controlunit 34 according to the present exemplary embodiment acquires the timenecessary for coping with the error from, for example, the error copingtable 14E illustrated in FIG. 8, and performs a control to subtract theacquired time from spare time. The error type illustrated in FIG. 8includes operation mistake, paper jam, paper feeding, expendable itemexchange, device check, a device error, a preprocessing andpost-processing machine error, an input data error, a raster imageprocessor (RIP) error, and system down, and the like, and is not limitedto these.

Next, a form in a case of plural the printing devices 50 are used willbe described with reference to FIG. 9. Plural printing devices 50 arenot limited to the printing device of a company itself and may be a formincluding a printing device of an external contractor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device characteristictable 14F according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The device characteristic table 14F illustrated in FIG. 9 storescharacteristic information on each of plural printing devices 50. Thecharacteristic information includes, for example, a sheet, PPM, blackand white/color, a print method, and the like. In addition, the printingdevices 50 having the same characteristics are grouped. For example, agroup A includes the printing device 50 having characteristics that“inkjet” is used as a print method and black and white/color is color. Agroup B includes the printing device 50 having characteristics that“toner” is used as a print method and black and white/color is black andwhite. A group C includes the printing device 50 having characteristicsthat “toner” is used as a print method and black and white/color iscolor.

The display control unit 34 according to the present exemplaryembodiment performs a control to update display of informationindicating a spare capacity of each of plural printing devices 50. It isdesirable that each of plural printing devices 50 have the samecharacteristics and belong to the same group. In the devicecharacteristic table 14F illustrated in FIG. 9, for example, in a casewhere the printing device 50 of “ledger #2” is used and the printingdevice 50 of “ledger #1” in the same group A is used together, the sparecapacity sheet number MP of the two devices is derived from Equation(11).

MP={WTM−(TM1+DTM2)}×(PPM2+1300)   (11)

However, “1300” indicates a print speed of the printing device 50 of“ledger #1”.

In this way, by selecting plural printing devices 50 belonging to thesame group as a target of a spare capacity display, a printing device towhich additional printing is assigned is easily selected.

Next, an operation of the print management device 10A according to thefirst exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processingperformed by the print management program 14A according to the firstexemplary embodiment.

First, if the print management device 10A is powered to start up, theprint management program 14A starts up, and the following steps areperformed.

In step 100 of FIG. 10, the acquiring unit 30 acquires the planned sheetnumber input by a user. The first print speed is previously acquiredfrom the printing device 50 and is stored in the variable managementtable 14B illustrated in FIG. 4 as an example.

In step 102, the deriving unit 32 derives the first print time based onthe planned sheet number and the first print speed. For example, thefirst print time is derived by dividing the planned sheet number by thefirst print speed. Furthermore, the deriving unit 32 derives a sparetime obtained by subtracting the first print time from an operationtime, and a spare capacity sheet number obtained by multiplying thespare time by the first print speed.

In step 104, the display control unit 34 performs a control to cause thedisplay unit 16 to display the spare capacity sheet number derived instep 102 as an initial value of information indicating a spare capacity.

In step 106, the acquiring unit 30 acquires the elapsed print time andthe printed sheet number of the printing device 50 from the printingdevice 50 which is in actual print and stores the acquired elapsed printtime and printed sheet number in the variable management table 14Billustrated in FIG. 4 as an example.

In step 108, the deriving unit 32 derives the second print speed of theprinting device 50. For example, the second print speed is derived bydividing the printed sheet number by a measured value of the elapsedprint time. In addition, the second print speed may be by dividing theprinted sheet number by a statistical value of the print time accordingto at least one of a type and a size of the sheet. In this case, forexample, the sheet condition table 14D illustrated in FIG. 7 is used. Inaddition, the second print speed may be derived by dividing the printedsheet number by a statistical value of the print time according to atleast one of the type and the size of the sheet and conditions of atemperature and a humidity at the time of printing. In this case, forexample, the temperature and humidity condition table 14C illustrated inFIG. 6 and the sheet condition table 14D illustrated in FIG. 7 are used.

In step 110, the deriving unit 32 derives the second print time, basedon the number of remained prints and the second print speed. The numberof remained prints is derived by subtracting the printed sheet numberfrom the planned sheet number. For example, the second print time isderived by dividing the number of remained prints by the second printspeed.

In step 112, for example, the display control unit 34 determines whetheror not the total time of the elapsed print time and the second printtime is different from the first print time. In a case where it isdetermined that the total time is different from the first print time(in a case of a positive determination), the processing proceeds to step114, and in a case where it is determined that the total time is thesame as the first print time (in a case where a negative determination),the processing proceeds to step 116.

In step 114, the display control unit 34 updates display of theinformation indicating the spare capacity. Specifically, the display isupdated as a spare capacity sheet number which is obtained bymultiplying the spare time obtained by subtracting the total time (theelapsed print time+the second print time) from the operation time by thesecond print speed.

In step 116, the display control unit 34 determines whether or not toend processing relating to a print management. In a case where it isdetermined that the processing relating to the print management is notended (in the case of a negative determination), the processing returnsto step 106 to be repeated. In a case where it is determined that theprocessing relating to the print management (in the case of a positivedetermination), a series of processing performed by the print managementprogram 14A ends.

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating an example of a print managementscreen according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The print management screen illustrated in FIG. 11 is a screen fordisplaying a print status of each of plural printing devices 50 managedby the print management device 10A in a list.

For example, the print management device 10A according to the presentexemplary embodiment manages the print statuses of plural printingdevices 50 of “XXX #1” to “XXX #10” illustrated in FIG. 11. For example,the printing device 50 of “XXX #1” illustrates a state of “in print”,and a print status 71 and a spare production capacity 72 are displayed.In the print status 71, the printed sheet number is set to 540 sheetswith respect to the planned number of 1,000 sheets. In this case, aprogress rate of printing is displayed as 54% (100×540/1,000).Meanwhile, a spare production capacity 72 at this time represents aspare capacity sheet number derived by the above-described method. Inthis example, 1,500 sheets are displayed. The same print status isdisplayed for the other printing devices 50. However, the printingdevice 50 of “XXX #3” illustrates a state of a “connection error”, andthe printing device 50 of “XXX #4” illustrates a state of an “error”. Inaddition, the printing device 50 of “XXX #5” illustrates a state of“power-off”, and the printing device 50 of “XXX #10” illustrates a stateof “standby”.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, aspare production capacity of the printing device is grasped. A user mayadjust assignment of additional printing while seeing the spareproduction capacity, and thereby, efficiency of the print processing maybe improved.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

In a present exemplary embodiment, a form of displaying informationindicating a spare capacity even in a post-processing device connectedto the printing device will be described.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of aprint management system 90B according to a second exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the print management system 90B according tothe present exemplary embodiment includes a print management device 10B,plural printing devices 50A, 50B, 50C, . . . , and pluralpost-processing devices 60A, 60B, 60C.

The post-processing device 60A according to the present exemplaryembodiment is connected to the printing device 50A. Likewise, thepost-processing device 60B is connected to the printing device 50B, andthe post-processing device 60C is connected to the printing device 50C.Hereinafter, in a case where there is no necessity to distinguish anddescribe plural post-processing devices 60A, 60B, 60C, . . . , pluralpost-processing devices are collectively referred to simply as thepost-processing device 60. The post-processing device 60 according tothe present exemplary embodiment performs various types ofpost-processing such as binding and cutting for print material producedby the printing device 50.

Next, a functional configuration of the print management device 10Baccording to the present exemplary embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 3 described above. The CPU 12A of the print managementdevice 10B according to the present exemplary embodiment functions asthe acquiring unit 30, the deriving unit 32, and the display controlunit 34 in the same manner as in the first exemplary embodiment.

The acquiring unit 30 according to the present exemplary embodimentacquires capability information of the post-processing device 60,measurement information such as a processed book number and an elapsedprocessing time, and the like from the post-processing device 60. Here,the capability information of the post-processing device 60 includes thefirst processing speed. The first processing speed is one of indicatorsindicating performance of the post-processing device 60 and isillustrated as the number of books per unit time that thepost-processing device 60 is processible.

The deriving unit 32 according to the present exemplary embodimentderives a post-processing plan for the post-processing device 60 andderives a post-processing status of the post-processing device 60 whichis in actual processing. Here, the post-processing plan includes a firstprocessing time. The first processing time is derived based on a plannedbook number which is previously determined and the first processingspeed. For example, a value obtained by dividing the planned book numberby the first processing speed may be applied to the first processingtime. The planned book number is the number of books previously plannedfor the post-processing device 60 and corresponds to the planned sheetnumber in the printing device 50. In addition, the post-processingstatus includes the elapsed processing time and the second processingtime. The elapsed processing time is time determined according to theprocessed book number out of the planned book number. The processed booknumber and the elapsed processing time are constantly or periodicallymeasured by the post-processing device 60. The second processing time isderived based on the number of unprocessed books out of the planned booknumber and the second processing speed. For example, a value obtained bydividing the number of unprocessed books by the second processing speedmay be applied to the second processing time. The number of unprocessedbooks is obtained by subtracting the processed book number from theplanned book number. The second processing speed is represented as thenumber of books per unit time in a case where the post-processing device60 actually processes. For example, the second processing speed isobtained by dividing the processed book number by the measured value ofthe elapsed processing time.

The display control unit 34 according to the present exemplaryembodiment performs a control to display information indicating a sparecapacity of the post-processing device 60, based on the post-processingplan and the post-processing status derived by the deriving unit 32.

First, the spare capacity at the time of post-processing plan will bedescribed. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first processingspeed is referred to as CPM1 and the second processing speed is referredto as CPM2. A unit thereof is [book/minute]. In addition, the plannedbook number is referred to as CPGPL, and the processed book number isreferred to as CPGPF. A unit thereof is [book]. In addition, themeasured value of the elapsed processing time is referred to as TM3, thefirst processing time is referred to as ETM1, the second processing timeis referred to as ETM2, and an operation time is referred to as WTM. Aunit thereof is [minute].

The number of maximum processed books MPC per day of the post-processingdevice 60 is derived from Equation (12).

MPC=WTM×CPM1   (12)

Meanwhile, the first processing time ETM1 is derived from Equation (13).

ETM1=CPGPL/CPM1   (13)

In a case where the spare capacity at this time is represented as time(spare time), the spare time MM is derived from Equation (14).

MM=WTM−ETM1   (14)

In a case where the spare capacity is represented as the number of books(spare capacity book number). The spare capacity book number MC isderived from Equation (15).

MC=(WTM−ETM1)×CPM1   (15)

The derived spare time MM and the derived spare capacity book number MCare set to initial values at the time of planning.

Next, the spare capacity at the time of post-processing will bedescribed. CPGPF and TM3 at a certain time T are acquired at the time Tafter the post-processing performed by the post-processing device 60starts. The second processing time ETM2 is derived from Equation (16).

ETM2=(CPGPL−CPGPF)/CPM2   (16)

Here, CPM2 is derived from Equation (17).

CPM2=CPGPF/TM3   (17)

At this time, in a case where CPM1=CPM2, a relationship of Equation (18)is established.

TM3+ETM2=ETM1   (18)

That is, post-processing is performed as planned, and the spare capacityis displayed as the initial value.

In the same manner as in a case of the first exemplary embodiment, thedisplay control unit 34 performs a control to update the display ofinformation indicating the spare capacity of the post-processing device60, based on the first processing time, the elapsed processing time, andthe second processing time which are described above. For example, in acase where a total time of the elapsed processing time and the secondprocessing time is different from the first processing time, the displayof the information indicating the spare capacity of the post-processingdevice 60 is updated. The term “different” used herein means that adifference between the total time and the first processing time isgreater than or equal to a previously determined time (for example, timelonger than or equal to 10 minutes). In a case where (TM3+ETM2) isdifferent from ETM1, the post-processing is not performed as planned,and the display of spare capacity is updated.

(TM3+ETM2)>ETM1   (19)

Specifically, in a case where Equation (10) is satisfied, Equation (19)indicates that printing is expected to be completed later than planned.

(TM3+ETM2)<ETM 1   (20)

Meanwhile, in a case where Equation (20) is satisfied, printing isexpected to be completed earlier than planned. In this case, forexample, the information indicating the spare capacity of thepost-processing device 60 is represented as the spare capacity booknumber which is obtained by multiplying the spare time obtained bysubtracting the elapsed processing time and the second processing timefrom the operation time by the second processing speed.

MC={WTM−(TM3+ETM2)}×CPM2   (21)

That is, the spare capacity book number MC is derived from Equation(21).

A value which is obtained by dividing the processed book number by astatistical value of the processing time according to at least one of atype and a size of a sheet may be adopted as the second processing speeddescribed above. The statistical value of the processing time referredto herein is obtained by multiplying the statistical value of theprocessing time per sheet by the processed book number. The type of asheet includes, for example, a normal paper, an embossed paper, arecycled paper, a custom paper, and the like. In addition, the size ofsheet includes, for example, B5, letter (Let), A4, B4, A3, and the like.For example, a statistical value may be previously obtained from a setof achieved values of the processing time per sheet, for each type ofthe sheet. Likewise, the statistical value may be obtained for each sizeof the sheet, or for each type and each size of the sheet. For example,an average value, a median value, a most frequent value, or the like isapplied to the statistical value.

In addition, a value obtained by dividing the processed book number by astatistical value of processing time according to at least one of a typeand a size of a sheet and conditions of a temperature and a humidity atthe time of printing may be adopted as the second processing speed.

FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating an example of a post-processingmanagement screen according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The post-processing management screen illustrated in FIG. 13 is a screenfor displaying a post-processing state of each of plural post-processingdevices 60 managed by the print management device 10B, in a list.

For example, the print management device 10B according to the presentexemplary embodiment manages post-processing states of pluralpost-processing devices 60 of “YYY #1” to “YYY #10” illustrated in FIG.13. For example, the post-processing device 60 of “YYY #1” illustrates astate of “in operation”, and a post-processing status 73 and a spareproduction capacity 74 are displayed. In the post-processing status 73,the processed book number is 540, while the planned book number is1,000. In this case, a progress rate of post-processing is displayed as54% (100×540/1,000). Meanwhile, a spare production capacity 74 at thistime represents the reserve book number derived by the above-describedmethod.

In this example, the spare production capacity is represented as 1,500books. Likewise, post-processing states for the other post-processingdevices 60 are displayed. However, the post-processing device 60 of “YYY#3” illustrates a state of a “connection error”, and the post-processingdevice 60 of “YYY #4” illustrates a state of an “error”. In addition,the post-processing device 60 of “YYY #5” illustrates a state of“power-off”, and the post-processing device 60 of “YYY #10” illustratesa state of “standby”.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, thespare production capacity of the post-processing device is grasped. Auser may adjust assignment of additional post-processing while seeingthe spare production capacity, and thereby, efficiency of thepost-processing is improved.

As such, the print management device according to the exemplaryembodiment is described by way of example. The exemplary embodiment maybe provided in a form of a program for causing a computer to performfunctions of the respective units included in the print managementdevice. The exemplary embodiment may be in the form of a storage mediumreadable by a computer that stores this program.

In addition to this, the configuration of the print management devicedescribed in the above exemplary embodiments is merely an example, andmodification may be made depending on a status within a range withoutdeparting from the gist.

In addition, a flow of processing of the program described in theabove-described exemplary embodiments is also an example, unnecessarysteps may be removed, new steps may be added, or a processing sequencemay be exchanged within a range without departing from the gist.

In addition, a case where the processing according to the exemplaryembodiment is realized by a software configuration using a computer byexecuting a program is described in the above exemplary embodiment, andthe present invention is not limited to this. The exemplary embodimentmay be realized by, for example, a hardware configuration or acombination of the hardware configuration and the softwareconfiguration.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A print management device comprising: a controlunit that performs a control for displaying of information indicating aspare capacity of at least one printing device based on a print plan anda print status of the at least one printing device that is performingprinting, the print plan being derived based on capability informationof the at least one printing device.
 2. The print management deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the capability information of the at leastone printing device includes a first print speed indicating a number ofsheets that the at least one printing device is able to print per unittime, wherein the print plan includes a first print time that is derivedbased on a planned sheet number that is determined in advance and thefirst print speed, wherein the print status includes an elapsed printtime in accordance with a printed sheet number out of the planned sheetnumber, and a second print time that is derived based on a remainingsheet number to be printed out of the planned sheet number and a secondprint speed indicating a number of sheets that the at least one printingdevice actually prints per unit time, and wherein the control unitperforms a control for updating the displaying of the informationindicating the spare capacity of the at least one printing device basedon the first print time, the elapsed print time, and the second printtime.
 3. The print management device according to claim 2, wherein thesecond print speed is a value that is obtained by dividing the printedsheet number by a measured value of the elapsed print time.
 4. The printmanagement device according to claim 2, wherein the second print speedis a value that is obtained by dividing the printed sheet number by astatistical value of a print time according to at least one of a typeand a size of a sheet that is printed by the at least one printingdevice.
 5. The print management device according to claim 4, wherein thesecond print speed is a value that is obtained by dividing the printedsheet number by a statistical value of print time according to acondition of a temperature and a humidity at a time of printing and atleast one of the type and the size of the sheet that is printed by theat least one printing device.
 6. The print management device accordingto claim 2, wherein the information indicating the spare capacity of theat least one printing device is represented as a number of sheets thatis obtained by multiplying the second print speed by a spare time thatis obtained by subtracting the elapsed print time and the second printtime from an operation time determined in advance.
 7. The printmanagement device according to claim 3, wherein the informationindicating the spare capacity of the at least one printing device isrepresented as a number of sheets that is obtained by multiplying thesecond print speed by a spare time that is obtained by subtracting theelapsed print time and the second print time from an operation timedetermined in advance.
 8. The print management device according to claim4, wherein the information indicating the spare capacity of the at leastone printing device is represented as a number of sheets that isobtained by multiplying the second print speed by a spare time that isobtained by subtracting the elapsed print time and the second print timefrom an operation time determined in advance
 9. The print managementdevice according to claim 5, wherein the information indicating thespare capacity of the at least one printing device is represented as anumber of sheets that is obtained by multiplying the second print speedby a spare time that is obtained by subtracting the elapsed print timeand the second print time from an operation time determined in advance.10. The print management device according to claim 6, wherein, in a casewhere occurrence of an error is detected, the control unit furtherperforms a control of subtracting a preset time required for dealingwith the error from the spare time.
 11. The print management deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the preset time is based on a statisticalvalue obtained by analysis of records of time needed to dealing with theerror at previous occurrences of the error.
 12. The print managementdevice according to claim 1, wherein the at least one printing deviceincludes a plurality of printing devices, and wherein the control unitfurther performs a control to update the displaying of the informationindicating the spare capacity for each of the plurality of printingdevices.
 13. The print management device according to claim 12, whereinthe plurality of printing devices have a same characteristic in common.14. The print management device according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one printing device is connected to a post-processing device, andwherein the control unit further performs a control for displayinginformation indicating a spare capacity of the post-processing devicebased on a post-processing plan that is derived based on capabilityinformation of the post-processing device and a post-processing statusof the post-processing device that is performing post-processing. 15.The print management device according to claim 14, wherein thecapability information of the post-processing device includes a firstpost-processing speed indicating a number of books that thepost-processing device is capable of processsing per unit time, whereinthe post-processing plan includes a first post-processing time that isderived based on a planned book number that is determined in advance andthe first post-processing speed, wherein the post-processing statusincludes an elapsed post-processing time in accordance with apost-processed book number out of the planned book number, and a secondpost-processing time that is derived based on a remaining number ofunprocessed books out of the planned book number and a secondpost-processing speed indicating a number of books that thepost-processing device actually processes per unit time, and wherein thecontrol unit further performs a control for updating the display ofinformation indicating the spare capacity of the post-processing devicebased on the first post-processing time, the elapsed post-processingtime, and the second post-processing time.
 16. A non-transitory computerreadable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute aprocess for print management, the process comprising: performing acontrol for displaying of information indicating a spare capacity of atleast one printing device based on a print plan and a print status ofthe at least one printing device that is performing printing, the printplan being derived based on capability information of the at least oneprinting device.